Official announcements from Iranian space agency, news reports, and satellite tracking data

Iran Launches 'Fakhr 1' into Space, Raising Western Concerns Over Missile Capabilities

Dec 6, 2024, 08:03 AM

Iran has successfully launched its heaviest-ever payload into space using the domestically developed Simorgh rocket. The launch, which took place on Friday, included an advanced module for transferring satellites to higher-altitude orbits, as reported by state television. The payload, named 'Fakhr 1', along with two other payloads, was successfully placed into an elliptical orbit with an apogee of 410 kilometers and a perigee of 300 kilometers. The launch has raised concerns in the West about Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, despite Tehran's claims that the space program is for peaceful purposes. Western allegations link the space program to Iran's ballistic missile development.